Abstract
Eight algal species (4 Rhodo , 1 chloro and 1 phaeophycean macroalgae, 1 cyanobacterium and 1 green microalga) were used for the production of biodiesel using two extraction solvent systems (Hexane/ether (1:1, v/v)) and (Chloroform/ methanol (2:1, v/v)). Biochemical evaluations of algal species were carried out by estimating biomass, lipid, biodiesel and sediment (glycerin and pigments) percentages. Hexane/ ether (1:1, v/v) extraction solvent system resulted in low lipid recoveries (2.3-3.5% dry weight) while; chloroform/methanol (2: 1, v/v) extraction solvent system was proved to be more efficient for lipid and biodiesel extraction (2.5 – 12.5% dry weight) depending on algal species. The green microalga Dictyochloropsis splendida extract produced the highest lipid and biodiesel yield (12.5 and 8.75% respectively) followed by the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis (9.2 and 7.5 % respectively). On the other hand, the macroalgae (red, brown and green) produced the lowest biodiesel yield. The fatty acids of Dictyochloropsis splendida Geitler biodiesel were determined using gas liquid chromatography. Lipids, biodiesel and glycerol production of Dictyochloropsis splendida Geitler (the promising alga) were markedly enhanced by either increasing salt concentration or by nitrogen deficiency with maximum production of (26.8, 18.9 and 7.9 % respectively) at nitrogen starvation condition.
Highlights
The basic sources of energy are petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydroelectrical and nuclear
Especially microalgae, were found to be the only source of renewable biodiesel that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuels (Chisti, 2007 and 2008)
This work aimed to investigate, estimate and compare the potentiality and sustainability of the use of different algal species belonging to different divisions for biodiesel production, using two different extraction solvent systems and comparing the biodiesel content produced by each algal species in both systems
Summary
The basic sources of energy are petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydroelectrical and nuclear. Especially microalgae, were found to be the only source of renewable biodiesel that is capable of meeting the global demand for transport fuels (Chisti, 2007 and 2008). The idea of using algae as a source of fuel is not new (Chisti, 1980 – 1981; Nagle and Lemke, 1990; Sawayama et al, 1995), but it is being taken seriously because of the increasing price of petroleum and more significantly, the emerging concern about global warming that is associated with burning fossil fuels (Gavrilescu and Chisti, 2005). Microalgae can provide several different types of renewable biofuels which include, methane, biodiesel (methyl esters) and biohydrogen (Gavrilescu and Chisti, 2005; Kapdan and Kargi, 2006; Spolaore et al, 2006). Oil productivity of many microalgae greatly exceeds the oil productivity of the best producing oil crops (Shay, 1993)
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